Electric switch



June 18, 1929- J. v. scHAl-ER ELECTRIC SWITCH Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN V. SCHAFER, OF BRONSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 HARRY A. DOUGLAS, OF

BRONSON, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application 'led February 9, 1927. Serial No. 166,896.

My invention relates to electric switches and has for its object theprovision of an improved contact member or members nor--mallytstationarily held with respect to a carrier therefor.

The device of my invention is inclusive of an electric currentconducting contact arm having one end fixed upon a carrier and the otherend adapted for engagement with a complemental contact. In accordancewith one feature of the invention, the contact arm is made flexibleandthere is a spring interposed between it and the contact carrier wherebythe cont-acting end of the arm is adapted to be pressed upon a.complemental contact with desired force. The spring is not required tobe included in the electric circuit so that its capacity is not reducedby current flowing therethrough.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the mounted end ofthe contact arm has facility for fixed anchorage upon the carrier tohave either of a plurality of 'directions whereby the contacting end ofthe arm may be adapted to differing locations of a complemental contact.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanyingdrawing in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a combined ignition andlighting switch employing contacts arranged in accordance with myinvention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is asectional view, on a larger scale, showing the preferred form of contactarm, a spring interposed between the contacting end: ofthe arm and thecontact carrier and a screw for connecting a circuit wire with thecontact arm; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 1; and Figais a perspective view of a portion of the contact carrier and one formof contact arm to be assembled therewith and shown separated therefrom.y

The switching mechanism is enclosed within a casing which is inclusiveof a front end wall 1 provided with a rearwardly projecting rim 2 havingclips 3 thereon which clamp the body portion 4 of the casing againstsaid end wall. The lock member is tubular and carries prongs 6 that areclinched outwardly against the outer face of the Aend wall 1. Said lockmember 5 projects rearwardly from the casing end wall into the casingand contains a rotatable tumbler barrel 7 in which are provided a numberof transversely movable tumblers 8 that are receivable in openings 9formed inopposite sides of the lock member 5, the tumbler barrel 7 beingheld from rotation when the tumblers are in said openings. A suitablyformed key serves to withdraw the tumblers from the openings 9 and maybe turned following the withdrawal of the tumblers from Said openings.

A contact actuator is provided at the inner end of the lock member 5,this actuator being inclusive of an insulating ring 10 which surroundsthe innerend of the tumbler barrel and is in splined connectiontherewith, this end of the tumbler barrel being oblong and entering thebore of the ring that is shaped correspondingly thereto, whereby thering may be turned. This actuator is also inclusive of a metalliccontact carrier 11 having radiating projections 12 13 and 14 whichconstitute substantially rigid switch contacts. The rear end wall of thecasing body 4 is shown as being of step formation, the rear end 4 of thepasing body being cylindrical and of shorter diameter than the front endof the casing body which is also cylindrical and is coaxial with therear end of the casing. The switch contacts 15, 16 and 17 that arecomplemental to the contacts 12, 13 and 14 are 1n the nature of cupformations upon the unmounted ends of the contact arms 18. These Contactarms are desirably formed. of fiexible spring metal and integrallywith-y the metallic `sleeves 19 which `pass through the insulatingcasing body. These sleeves are provided with flanges 20 and 21 upontheir ends, the casing body being snugly received between these flanges.The contact arms 18 project laterally from the flanges 21 of themetallic sleeves 19, the` contacts 15, 16 and 17 being integrally formedwith said contact arms. These contacts are brought into electricalconnection with circuit wires by means of the binding screws 22 whichare threaded into the interiors of the sleeves 19 and serve to securesaid wires in firm mechanical and electrical connection with saidsleeves. As

indicatedin Fig. 2, thesecircuit wires are connected with the generator,the induction coil and battery. By suitably turning the' tumbler barrel7, the ignition circuitv of an internal combustion engine having theswitch described may be controlled, as is well understood by thoseskilled in the art. The

illustrated, the sleeves 19 which pertain to outer ends of' coiledsprings 23 enter 'the cavities of thecontacts 15, 16 and 17, thesecavities facing the casing body. The'other ends of said springs arereceived in recesses 24 formed in the casing body. Said contact arms 18.are bent to space their contacting ends sufficiently from the casingbody. As

. the contact arms 18 which carry the contacts 15, 16 and 17 arepolygonal in their exterior contour, openings in said casing body beingcorrespondingly shaped and receiving these particular sleeves that areprevented from'turning with respect to the casing body. The portion ofthe casing body which car ries the switch arms 18 having the contacts15, 16 and 17 thereon is, itself, a contact carrier, the invention notbeing limited to the employment-of the casing body as a con-` tactcarrier. 1 fr The switch illustrated,.is also adapted for the control oflighting circuits of an automobile or other automotive vehicle, saidswitch including a second contact actuator which is surrounded by thefront end of the casing body 4 and is inclusive ofan insulating ring 25and a contact carrier 26 in the form of a metallic ring, the ring 26carrying substantially rigid switch contacts 27,

28, 29 and 30. The second contact actuator is operated by a handle 31mounted to turn upon the exterior of the casing and having prongs 32that pass through slots 33 formed in the casing end wall 1, these pron sentering openings 34 that constitute radial enlargements of the bore ofthe insulating ring 25, this ring and these prongs being in slidingengagement. The handle has iange formations 35 that are received betweenthe casing wall 1 and a the handle entering plate. The plateA 36 issuitably assembled with the casing end wall as by means of rivets 37.The plate 36 may constitute a mounting. plate for the switch structure,as illustrated. l

The switch contacts 38, 39, 40 and 4.1 that are complemental to theswitch contacts27,

28, 29 and 30 are yalso in thenature of cup formations carried uponcontact arms 18 and 182, the openings in the cups facing the body 4. Allof the contact arms 18, 128 182 are of similar formation, the arms 18being integrally formed with the inner ianges 21 upon the metallicsleeves 19 that are of hexagonal contour snugly received withincorresponding openings in the insulating body of the casing 'which alsoserves as a carrier for the arms 18 and the contacts body 4 in the zoneof the sleeves 19 constituting a contact carrying block. The othe'r endsof the sleeves 19 are formed with flanges, similar to the ange 20 sothat the sleeves 19 are firmly gripped in assembly with the casing plate36, the hub 31 of a central opening in thiscular in contour but areotherwise similar to the sleeves 19 and are similarly integrally formedwith the arms 182 andsimilarly assembled with the insulating body of theswitch casing. The contact arms 18', 182 are pressed upon by the coiledsprings 23 which are contained Within the recesses 24 formed in thecasing body. These springs press upon the contacts 38, 39, 40 and 41outwardly from the portion of the casing body carrying these springs,functioning siinilarl in this respect to the springs 23. All of thesprings are so located as to carry no current so that their efficiencyis not impaired by the passage lof current therethrough. The lattercontacts are variously connected withthe wiring pertaining to thebattery, the tail lamp and the bright and dim head lamp circuits. Bysuitably turning the handle 31, the selected lamp circuits may be closedor all of these circuits may be opened. It is obvious that thesecircuits may be rearranged or reduced in number. I have shown meanswhereby some of the contacts vmay be readily rearranged in rearrangingthe circuits. Thecont-acts carried by the arms 182 are carried uponsleeves 192 that are cylindrical in contour. These arms may be swung todiiferent positions. I have shown extra recesses 242 which are spacedapart from the centers of the sleeves 192 similarly to the correspondingrecesses 24. The arms ma be swung over the recesses 242 and two o thesprings 23 may be located in these latter recesses to function as theydid before. I

do not wish to be limited to the recesses 242,

for the purpose of locating the springs.

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having thus described' my invention, I claim! 1-. In a switch structure,the combination with a contact carrying block; of an interiorly threadedsleeve passingA through said block and having flanges upon its endswhich grip the block between them, one of said fianges having a lateralextension in the form of a contact arm whose outer end is spaced apartfrom said block and is of cup formation, the open end of the cupformation facing said block; a coiled spring seated upon said block andentering saidy cup formationgdand a binding screw screwed into saidsleeve.

2. In a switch structure, the combination with a contact carrying block;of an interiorly threaded sleeve passing throughY said block andhavingflanges upon its ends formation, the open end of the cup .formationfacing said block; and a bindingiscrew screwed into said sleeve. 1'

3. In a switch structure, the combination with va contact carryingblock; of an interiorly threaded sleeve passing through said block andhaving flanges upon its ends which grip the block between them, one ofsaid fianges having a lateral extension in the form of a Contact armwhose outer end is spaced apart from said block; and a binding screwscrewed into said sleeve.

4. In a switch structure, the combination with' a Contact carryingblock; of an interiorly threaded lsleeve passing through said block andhaving fianges upon its ends which grip the block between them, one ofsaidfianges having a lateral extension in the form of ,acontact arm; anda binding screw screwed into said sleeve.

l5. In afswitch structure, the combination with a Contact carryingblock; of an interiorl threaded s1eeve`ieceived in said block and avinfya flange at one end, this flange having a lateral extension in the formof a vcontact armwhose outer -end is spaced apart from said block and isof cup formatidn, the i binding screw screwed into said sleeve.

6. In a switch structure, the combination with a contact carrying block;of an interiorly threaded sleeve received in said block and having aiange at one end, this flange having a lateral extension in the form ofa contact arm whose outer end is spaced apart from said block and is ofcup formation,'the open end of the cup formation facing said block; anda binding screw screwed into said sleeve. n

7. In a switch-structure, the combination with a contact carrying block;of an interiorly threaded sleeve received in said block and having aflange at one end, this ange having a lateral extension in the form of acontact arm whose outer end is of cu formation; and a binding screwscrew into said sleeve.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

JOHN V; SCHAFER.

